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Roasted Pear Recipe

These quick little roasted pear crostini appetizers are so easy to make. They are simple, delicious and a pretty crowd pleaser. The toasted baguette slices are perfectly crunchy as you bite into them. Then you taste one of the spreads of cream cheese, Mascarpone or Nutella, next comes a slice of the sweet roasted pear, and finally it is crowned with a yummy sprinkling of toasted pistachios, orange zest, cinnamon, raspberries, or bacon.

We even added a slice of roasted sweet potato to one, and to another combined cream cheese, basil, and bacon. But you don’t have to stop there, for you can use items you may already have on hand in your pantry and refrigerator. That’s what we did. We just thought, what sounds like it might go well with a roasted pear? Then we played with different ideas and had fun with it. It was a delicious little success that our friends enjoyed with us!

Usually Mac and I tend to think of crostinis as a savory appetizer, with garlic, tomato, a thin slice of an Italian cheese or salami, and shredded basil, maybe sprinkled with Parmesan. And we have prepared and munched on many of them. But this time we wanted to try something different—a sweet instead of a savory one, so that is how this pear appetizer was born. Just choose a pear that is ripe, or buy it ahead of time and wait for it to ripen.

We talked about the different ways we could prepare the pear: poached in water or wine (red or white), grilled on the stove, or roasted. We settled on roasting it in the oven as the most likely successful choice, poaching would make it too wet to put on the bread. Plus roasting any fruit or vegetable concentrates the flavor and makes it more flavorful—sounds good to me!

We both liked the outcome of the roasting, it brought out the delectable pear flavor, concentrated and full on!

We had read that it was best to toast the baguette slice first, with no oil, so that’s what we did. Then we checked the pantry and refrigerator and pulled out the “possibilities” and started trying them, eliminating the ones we didn’t like.

Appetizers with Roasted Pear Ingredients

We like variety, and this pear appetizer lends itself to so many variations that turn out yummy and delicious. As they say, “The sky’s the limit!” The first crostini in the picture is simple, with a little cream cheese under the pear slice, with pistachios on top, then sprinkled with Parmgiano Reggiano.

I don’t know which one of us gets credit for the second one, thinking of the addition of the roasted sweet potato slice, but it adds color, sweetness of its own, and begs for orange zest and cinnamon to be complete.

And then there is the spreading of chocolaty hazelnut yum on the baguette with the pear slice and a raspberry, clinging to the pear slice by the seat of its little panties, with the help of a dollop of cream cheese. Oh heavens it is so pretty and tasty that I could eat a whole plate of just those!

We added some sugar and vanilla to the Mascarpone cheese which elevated its delicious factor way up there. We kept that crostini appetizer simple to let the flavored Mascarpone shine. The pistachios added a note of saltiness that really complemented the whole thing, without detracting from the Mascarpone.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with adding a spread of cream cheese, basil and bacon together with a pear slice, but it ended up being a nice surprise. Try one or all of these, or experiment on your own. Have fun!

Notes

Hi, I am Karen. I am a food blogger and live in Texas, USA. I just love cooking for my family and my friends. I upload recipe articles from time to time to this online food blog. Tell me what you think.

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Hi, I'm Lee-Ann. Thanks for visiting my food blog. I am a foodie, traveler and a cat lover. (not necessarily in that that order). After reading food blog after food blog, after food blog - I thought - You know what I need it a food blog of my own. Why not - I can cook and I can bake. Learn More